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Overview

Cancer rates across the Middle East are expected to double between 2012 and 2030, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates—the highest relative increase of any region globally. This rise is caused by a combination of rapid population growth, environmental factors, lifestyle choices and increasing detection rates, but it is further driven by limited access to high-quality treatment and care. How can a holistic, affordable and sustainable system provide care for all?

Building on global dialogues at War on Cancer events in Europe, Latin America and Asia, War on Cancer: Middle East 2019 will advance the conversation by bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, health-care providers, insurers, investors, scientists, technologists and prominent thinkers to explore how a cancer-care pathway should be designed, funded and implemented across the Middle East. What needs to be done to improve prevention, screening, early detection and treatment, and how can policymakers and regulators educate the region’s population about healthy lifestyle choices? How can stakeholders ensure that care is not just for the wealthy, but accessible to all members of society?

Why attend

Agenda highlights:

Cancer control in the Middle East

The patient’s perspective

Putting vision to work

Early detection and screening

Treatment and palliation

Financing the gap

Innovation in health systems

Join us and you will:

Network with leaders from healthcare, academia and government

Explore the innovations in cancer care in the Middle East and across the world

Participate and collaborate in strategy sessions to solve some of the regional issues that are hampering progress

Who should attend?

Medical practitioners, oncologists, doctors

Health care providers and hospitals

Government, policymakers and industry regulators

Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Medical devices and health technology

Cancer networks and patient groups

Academia e.g. professors of oncology

Cancer charities and non-profits

Health insurance

Health insights and consultants

Speakers

HRH Princess Dina Mired

President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

HRH Princess Dina Mired

President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan is the President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). HRH Princess Dina Mired is a global advocate for cancer control and non- communicable diseases and the mother of a cancer survivor. She led the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) in Jordan as director general for fifteen years, transforming the non-profit into an internationally known brand and leader in the global movement for people affected by cancer. As one of the leading figures advocating for early detection and screening of breast cancer for women in Jordan, she was the honorary chairperson of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program as founder from 2006-2016. Princess Dina serves in many high-profile international positions, most recently as President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Also, last September of 2018, she was chosen to speak again at the third High-Level meeting on NCDs as “Eminent Champion of the fight against Non-communicable diseases” on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s). Previously, in 2011, she was honoured to have been chosen to deliver the keynote speech on behalf of civil society at the first ever United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs. As a fierce advocate in the fight against tobacco, she is honorary chair of the Tobacco-Free Portfolios steering committee and honorary president of the Harvard University Global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Control and Care in the Developing World. Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan is the president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). HRH Princess Dina Mired is a global advocate for cancer control and non- communicable diseases and the mother of a cancer survivor. She led the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) in Jordan as director general for fifteen years, transforming the non-profit into an internationally known brand and leader in the global movement for people affected by cancer. As one of the leading figures advocating for early detection and screening of breast cancer for women in Jordan, she was the honorary chairperson of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program as founder from 2006-2016. Princess Dina serves in many high-profile international positions, most recently as president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). In 2011, she was honoured to have been chosen to deliver the keynote speech on behalf of civil society at the first ever United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs. As a fierce advocate in the fight against tobacco, she is honorary chair of the Tobacco Free Portfolios steering committee and honorary president of the Harvard University Global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Control and Care in the Developing World.

Younis Mohammed Amin Kazim

Chief executive officer, Dubai Healthcare Corporation(DHA)

Younis Mohammed Amin Kazim

Chief executive officer, Dubai Healthcare Corporation(DHA)

Dr. Younis Mohammed Amin Kazim is the CEO of Dubai Healthcare Corporation, which was established in May 2018 to manage and operate all government health care facilities in Dubai. Dr. Younis is a vascular surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, and he holds memberships in the European Society of Vascular Surgery, the European Society of Surgery
and Surgical Research, and the German Society of Vascular Surgery. He earned his degree in medicine and surgery in Cairo, and he completed his internship and residency training in the Dubai Health Authority from 1984 to 1988. He received medical specialty training in general surgery in 1994 and vascular surgery in 1995 from Germany. Dr. Younis began his surgical career in vascular surgery at Rashid Hospital Dubai in 1996. He has been the Head of Vascular Medicine of Rashid Hospital since 2002, and has served as Medical Director of the hospital since June of 2006. He established the vascular unit as an independent unit in the Dubai Department of Health in 1996, and he is considered a pioneer of vascular medicine service in the UAE. Dr. Younis also established several new departments as Director of Medical Affairs, including geriatrics in 2006 and general internal medicine in 2012. During his service as Chief Medical Officer of the Al Gharbia region, Dr. Younis was also responsible for the six hospitals and four peripheral clinics of the Al Gharbia Hospitals, the establishment of services at new hospitals in Gayathi and Sila, the expansion of service in Liwa Hospital, and the restructuring of medical affairs for the region. He also was the Chief of
Medical and Clinical Affairs Officer in SEHA Abu Dhabi and was involved in many initiatives and health care projects in SEHA facilities.
Dr. Younis also served as a member of the board of Dubai Healthcare City

Omar Nimri

Head, cancer prevention and control, Ministry of Health, Jordan

Omar Nimri

Head, cancer prevention and control, Ministry of Health, Jordan

Prior to taking leadership of the Cancer Prevention and Control Department, Omar Nimri was director of the Jordan Cancer Registry. As a lecturer, trainer and advisor, Dr Nimri has worked at the local, regional and international levels on cancer burden, epidemiology, prevention, screening and registration. He is a member of the IARC Regional Hub for Cancer Registration in Izmir, and of the EUROMED CANCER network project, which aims to support non-EU Mediterranean countries in developing policies for early cancer screening and detection.

Tareef Yousef Alaama

Tareef Yousef Alaama

Dr. Tareef Y. Alaama, is a highly trusted strategic executive leader in the Health sector in Saudi Arabia with 16 + years of experience in the health profession. He is currently the Deputy Minister for Therapeutic Services and is in charge of the curative services provided by over 60,000 health care professionals, with multiple mega projects and operations. He is also responsible for 270+ public Ministry of Health Hospitals (total capacity 40,000 beds), Rehabilitation Services, Home Health Care serving 50,000+ patients, Mental Health Services, Radiology, Pharmaceutical Services, Nurses (60000+), Forensic Medicine, Nutrition and the Emergency & Disaster readiness. As a healthcare leader, he has an integral role in establishing an outstanding and sustainable health system in Saudi Arabia with the best ranking in the world. He has remarkably achieved this in an evolving environment through building & inspiring cross-functional high performing teams, using advanced influencing & communication, effective problem solving & innovative thinking while engaging large numbers of stakeholders.
Dr. Tareef has been a driving force throughout his career and instrumental in leading a number of quality oriented and strategic initiatives. He ensures
sustainability and long-term financial success thru optimization and efficiency initiatives. He greatly improved the efficiency of health care delivery within the Ministry of Health’s 70 largest hospitals in Saudi Arabia, resulting in savings of thousands of waiting hours and hospital inpatient days, and improved client and employee satisfaction. The estimated savings reach to c. 100 million USD p.a. He also introduced, measured and reported quality measures and KPIs in a transparent fashion, thereby improving quality across all curative services. Additionally, he achieved savings of c. 500 million USD by streamlining and regulating urgent medical referrals. He implemented a major project with a budget of c. 500 million USD to increase the capacity and improve the quality of the critical care and emergency units in the Kingdom. He initiated multiple projects and task
forces to improve essential health services in the Kingdom. These included Home Care, Rehabilitation, Blood Banks, Emergency Care, and Maternal & Infant Mortality. Besides his MOH role, he is also a consultant & assistant professor of internal medicine & geriatrics. He educated medical students in all levels, trained medical residents and fellows and supervised their research and quality improvement projects in different phases of their training, he is also a practicing physician.
Dr. Tareef authored and co-authored many research papers, which were
published in reputable international scientific journals, and regularly reviews publications for multiple journals. He also has contributed to national and international conferences and symposia and has received awards and recognition for his research.
Dr. Tareef has outstanding leadership training in multiple reputable
management schools and institutes, such as the Canadian Physician
Management Institute, Michigan Ross School of Business, London Business
School, the Board Directors Institute, and the American Association for
Physician Leadership, and is a 6 sigma black belt expert.
Dr. Tareef is double boarded in Internal Medicine & Geriatrics from both the
American board and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.

Karol Sikora

Chief medical officer, Proton Partners International

Karol Sikora

Chief medical officer, Proton Partners International

Professor Karol Sikora is a world respected oncologist and campaigner for better universal cancer treatment. He studied medical science and biochemistry at Cambridge where he was awarded a double first. He created Proton Partners International in 2015 to bring the first precision proton beam to the UK in 2018. Previously he launched Cancer Partners UK, Britain’s largest independent network of ten innovative cancer treatment centres in 2009. Prior to this he was Clinical Director and Chairman of the Department of Cancer Medicine at Imperial College Healthcare at Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals in West London.

Building on his experience as Chief of the World Health Organisation’s Cancer Programme, he has also formed Cancer Partners International, which builds more affordable cancer centres in the developing world. He is a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Founding Dean and Professor of Medicine at Buckingham University, Britain’s first independent medical school which works closely with Milton Keynes University Hospital. He writes and lectures regularly on the use of biomarkers and surrogate endpoints by using molecular diagnostics to personalise therapy. He has published over 400 papers and 20 books have included Treatment of Cancer – the leading British postgraduate textbook for which he has been the senior editor for 7 editions spanning 30 years.

Asem Mansour

Asem Mansour

Dr. Asem H. Mansour serves as the CEO and the Director General of the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan; the largest Standalone Comprehensive Cancer Center across the Middle East, leading more than 200 oncologists and consultants and over 2,800 healthcare professionals in executing KHCC’s vision to provide the highest quality care to cancer patients throughout the Region.

He first joined the Center as the Chairman of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology in 1998 and he was later appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program (JBCP) in 2012.

As his responsibilities grew, Dr. Mansour shifted all his focus towards fulfilling his long awaited promise of living up to KHCC’s legacy; by overseeing the execution process of a 108,000 square meters Expansion flourish into life. The campus included a 13-story inpatient tower and a 10-story outpatient building ranging a total of 352 beds that enabled KHCC to grow significantly serving an increasing number of patients every year by doubling up the capacity of new cases.

As the Chairman of the Construction Committee, Dr. Mansour oversaw the commissioning of facilities including the innovative Diagnostic and Treatment Facilities designed to serve revenue growth, physician recruitment and capital construction doubling its existing capacity for superior patient care by introducing the new strategy of Institution Hospital Information Technology.

Aside from being the co-leader and co-founder of the newly established KHCC program; the Cancer Care Informatics (CCI) in Jordan that aims to enhance the utilization of data to better serve cancer patients, Dr. Mansour is also a notable newspaper columnist, an active reviewer, and have co-authored in many prestigious medical journals, and various peer-reviewed publications.

A renowned certified Diagnostic Radiologist with a subspecialty fellowship in Neuroradiology (ESNR), Dr. Mansour earned his M.D. from the Vitebsk Medical Institute, School of Medicine. He successfully pursued a fellowship through the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR- London) and also holds a Master degree of Medical Management (MMM) from the Carnegie Mellon University, USA.

Azad Moopen

Founder chairman and managing director, Aster DM Healthcare

Azad Moopen

Founder chairman and managing director, Aster DM Healthcare

Dr. Azad Moopen, the visionary Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, always believes that healthcare is more than a business, primarily a service dedicated to saving lives and restoring wellness. The journey, that Dr. Azad Moopen started with this strong conviction, has touched and made significant positive changes in the lives of millions.

Son of late MA Moopen, a noble soul, freedom fighter and social leader, Dr. Azad Moopen is a Gold Medalist in MBBS and a Post Graduate in General Medicine from Calicut Government Medical College in Kerala, and a Diploma holder in Chest Diseases from Delhi University, India. He started his career as a Medical Lecturer but a chance visit to Dubai exposed him to the immense possibilities of the untapped healthcare sector in the Gulf and he took a life changing decision of relocating to Dubai.

Dr. Azad Moopen’s journey in developing the healthcare sector of the region has been phenomenal. Starting from a single doctor clinic in Dubai in 1987, Aster DM Healthcare has grown over the 30 years into a global healthcare conglomerate of more than 350 facilities spread across nine countries. Guided by his mission to provide quality healthcare at affordable costs at the door-step of people, Dr. Moopen’s efforts have played a significant role in shaping the healthcare delivery model of the region. Today, Aster DM Healthcare is an integrated healthcare service organisation, that provides the complete circle of care to people through its world-class network of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, providing primary to quaternary care to all segments of the population. The Company is one of the largest integrated healthcare service providers in GCC and India.

Dr. Azad Moopen revolutionized the healthcare service in the region by creating a healthcare model and facilities which are accessible to different income groups and masses without compromising the service aspect of the noble medical profession. Along with providing medical care to millions of people across geographies, Aster DM healthcare now provides direct employment to more than 17,700 people, including 1,499 doctors, and 5873 nurses and para medicals as on 30th September 2018 and the numbers are still growing.

A dedicated philanthropist, Dr. Azad Moopen, has embarked on numerous social initiatives through Aster DM Foundation and Dr. Moopen Family Foundation. He strongly believes that profit is a by-product and not our purpose in healthcare, and his initiatives in the field of healthcare, education, women and social empowerment are providing hope to millions across geographies. He has earmarked 20% of his personal wealth for philanthropic activities enabling social change and helping people in need.

A stern believer in values, Dr. Moopen balances his work and family life where he has been ably supported by his loving wife Naseera and three daughters, their families and grandchildren.

Hesham Elghazaly

Professor of clinical oncology and head of medical research centre (MASRI), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

Hesham Elghazaly

Professor of clinical oncology and head of medical research centre (MASRI), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

Professor Hesham Elghazaly is a professor of clinical oncology and head of medical research center (MASRI) Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. He is a board member of the higher committee against cancer in Egypt and the vice chair of NCCN-MENA breast section and member, as a President of BGICS, in the general assembly of Breast International Group BIG. He is the past head of oncology departments in general organization of teaching hospitals and institutes (GOTHI).

Professor Elghazaly is the founder and president of BGICS "Breast –Gynecological International Cancer Society" ww.bgics.net which is an organization established to enhance prevention strategy through awareness and early detection, medical education for all oncology-related specialties, establishing patients support programs and initiating or sharing in scientific research. It represents a committee of the international & national members including all specialties concerned of cancer care dedicated to foster international multidisciplinary collaboration to highlight the updates on evidence-based practice to reach a guideline for the management of breast and gynecological cancers. The BGICC "Breast –Gynecological International Cancer Conference is one of the main activities of the society.

Dr Elghazaly shared in establishing the ESMO guidelines of colorectal cancer published in Annals of Oncology 2012 and Breast cancer NCCN MENA guidelines in 2017.

Professor Elghazaly was the head of GI and Gynecological malignancy 2015-2016 and also established ICRC (International Cancer Research Center) which is the first NGO research center in the region which considered as flat organization branched from BGICS aiming at promoting translational and clinical research in the region.

Prof. Elghazaly is the chairman and owner of Alfa cure oncology center which is the first multi-branched European accredited centers for integrated oncology management and palliative care. It is a private center highly equipped and perfectly tailored to achieve the maximum care and cure of cancer patients.

Hala Aseel

Co-founder, Zahra Breast Cancer Association

Hala Aseel

Co-founder, Zahra Breast Cancer Association

Hala Aseel has a masters in community counseling from The George Washington University in DC, USA. She is the Co-founder and active member at Zahra Breast Cancer Association, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and

Co-Founder of Blossom Psychoeducation Support Group for Breast Cancer Survivors. She is currently working at Psych Care Clinics as a mental health counselor for adults and adolescents

Zanubia Shams

Co-chairperson and chief executive officer, Zulekha Healthcare Group

Zanubia Shams

Co-chairperson and chief executive officer, Zulekha Healthcare Group

Mrs Zanubia Shams, a visionary leader and prolific entrepreneur is a sincere healthcare ambassador. She has been shouldering the operational responsibilities of the Zulekha Healthcare Group since 2005, supporting her mother. Dr Zulekha Daud in expanding their operations in UAE & India. Mrs Shams has an inherent passion for excellence in operations and with her strategic leadership she exudes an air of confidence that catalyses the operational efficiencies across Zulekha Healthcare Group.
A post-graduate in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, USA, in her professional career, she has successfully established a network of Zulekha healthcare facilities in UAE and India including three hospitals, medical centres, pharmacies and a pharmaceutical store. The group’s projects embody applied dedication for quality & environment friendly healthcare solutions in UAE & India. Adding to her credits, Mrs. Shams features on the Forbes list of Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Middle East. She was also honoured with the Emirates Women Award by the Dubai Quality Group this year. To maintain international standards she reinstates it is essential to expand both our knowledge and understanding of how things are being done & newer ways of doing them, newer perspectives on how management works, on how customer service works and on how you blend technology. Her able guidance helped her teams blend technology with the human experience thereby delivery service excellence and creating centres of excellence across key specialities such as Oncology, Cardiology, Gynaecology and Bariatric. Her commitment towards philanthropy compliments her zeal for success in her business initiatives. Her active involvement in helping communities and the underprivileged through CSR initiatives goes beyond the conventional boundaries of healthcare. Through a series of health-focused campaigns and initiatives, she continues to successfully address major health concerns year on year.
In May 2015, she launched a new cervical cancer screening and prevention initiative – ‘Chance to Change’ to help reduce the incidence of the disease through early detection and regular checks thereby saving lives across the Emirates. Later the same year, as part of October’s global Breast Cancer Awareness month, Mrs Shams spearheaded the launch of the ‘Pink It Now’ campaign, offering women in the UAE access to free breast cancer consultations and mammograms.
Additionally, she had taken forward two other campaigns - Screen and Survive, a colorectal cancer awareness initiative and No More Excuses, a yearlong cardiac health and wellness initiative. Her compassion towards the communities in offering free checks and consultations through the years resonates her desire to eradicate the deadly diseases commonly prevailing in our societies and killing the masses. Mrs Shams believes that having been able to offer affordable quality healthcare services for over five decades now, it has become a habit to serve only the best to our patrons. She embraces the advent of latest patient information systems or hospital information systems in daily operations, which are just another catalyst in the golden phase of healthcare developments. Under her leadership, Zulekha Healthcare Group has joined hands with IFC - World Bank Group to drive “She Works”, a Global Initiative to improve Women Employment. This initiative compels a 60:40 women to men employee ratio to be achieved by the organization, which it has.

Wahid Al Kharusi

President, Oman Cancer Association

Wahid Al Kharusi

President, Oman Cancer Association

HE Dr. Wahid alKharusi was the 5th Omani Doctor to join the MOH in 1972. He was the first general surgeon and later the first Orthopedic and Trauma surgeon in Oman. In 1982 he was appointed as the chief of Orthopedics Trauma and Rehabilitation service for Oman.

He was appointed as the Associate professor in Orthopedics and trauma at SQU in 1985. He was the head of the orthopedic trauma and rehabilitation department at SQU. After 36 years in clinical medicine in 2008 by Royal Decree, he was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an Ambassador until his retirement in 2004.

He is the father of global road safety and was very much involved in medical administration, human resource development, and sports medicine. He has been with the Oman Cancer Association since its beginning and now he is the president of OCA.

Recently he was elected to be a board member of the prestigious UICC union for international Cancer control the first within the Gulf countries.

He is a nominated member of the Alpha Omega Alpha international society the only member in the region for his global work.

Bassim Jaffar Al Bahrani

Director, National Oncology Centre, Royal Hospital, Muscat

Bassim Jaffar Al Bahrani

Director, National Oncology Centre, Royal Hospital, Muscat

Dr. Bassim Al Bahrani is working as Director National Oncology Center at the Royal Hospital Muscat Oman since 2010. He has his basic medical degree in 1989 from Bahrain, done his advance training in Medical Oncology in Australia and earned fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of physicians and surgeons of Glasgow, has European Certification in Medical Oncology from ESMO, and PhD from University of Rome Tor Vergata

He is an active and dynamic member of many Oncology associations including European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Gulf federation for Cancer Control, Arab association against cancer, and Medical Oncology group of Australia. Deputy chairman of the MOH National cancer control committee, member of the National committee on NCD control, member MOH treatment abroad Committee, member Gulf Federation for cancer Control, and Committee member of the Arab Medical Association against Cancer.

Dr. Bassim Al Bahrani has an outstanding illustrious job portfolio and enormous experience being an eminent academic, renowned clinician, distinguished researcher, acknowledged health advocate and a recognized health administrator. He has numerous presentations to his credit, being made at international forums. He is an active contributor to research, planning and development in Oncology in Oman.

He is an editorial board member and reviewer to many international and regional journals. He is author of over 40 research articles published in peer reviewed international journals, and presented more than 20 posters and abstracts in international Oncology conferences.

Madhu Sasidhar

Madhu Sasidhar

Madhu Sasidhar, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer and a consultant pulmonologist and intensivist in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. As Chief Medical Officer, he is responsible for inpatient, outpatient and surgical operations. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Sasidhar was Section Head of Respiratory Therapy in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic in the United States, which he joined in 2008. Dr. Sasidhar received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1992 from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. After completing his residency in internal medicine at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, he completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Sasidhar is a Fellow of the American College of Chest physicians. He has authored or co-authored a number of peer-reviewed medical journals and book chapters, as well as holding one patent registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Sunil Anand

Executive director, ECHO Trust

Sunil Anand

Executive director, ECHO Trust

A graduate and postgraduate from the Armed Forces Medical College, Dr Sunil Anand is a U.K. trained Intensive Care clinician with Post graduate qualifications in Internal Medicine and Anaesthesia. With a 25 year diverse experience in the Healthcare Industry, ranging from bringing innovative technologies to India to being Faculty at the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine conferences and the B.Sc (Medical Technology) course at Symbiosis University, Pune, Maharashtra, India. A serial entrepreneur, Dr Sunil Anand currently serves as the Executive Director of ECHO Trust, India bringing clinical expertise along with managerial and Industry contacts to the Trust.

Mohammed Bushnaq

President , Jordanian Palliative Care and Pain Management Society

Mohammed Bushnaq

President , Jordanian Palliative Care and Pain Management Society

He graduated as an MD from Istanbul university, then received hi9s Jordanian board in internal medicine. He joined the international fellowship program at San Diego Institute for Palliative Medicine, and became the first palliative care consultant in Jordan. In 2004 he was asked to establish and lead the palliative care program at King Hussein Cancer Center. He worked there for 6 years. He is particularly interested in Implementation of palliative care, creating comprehensive spiritual system and building capacity in volunteer work. Beside his private clinic "palliative care and pain management", he is the director of Arab Academy of Palliative Care" and "Bushnaq Training and Development Center". He is the founder and chairman of Jordan Palliative Care Society, and chairman of Bab Elkheer society for volunteer work. He is a temporary adviser for regional office- WHO., and a visiting faculty at school of medicine, Hashemite university- Jordan. He has written 2 books in internal medicine, and 3 books in palliative care in Arabic. His own values are: passion, giving and creativity, and he has been able to develop advanced leadership skills; strategic planning, project management, branding and very good presentation skills. Key accomplishments: - Led the national efforts to develop the national guidelines for palliative care, that was recognized by the ministry of health in Jordan. - Developed " palliative care- 2days course" and trained over 1000 candidates health care workers in Jordan. - Created "wellness house", a group therapy group for cancer patients. - launched " Palliative Care Diploma" affiliated with the German Jordanian University, and trained over 50 candidates. - launched " NGO and Volunteer work diploma " affiliated with the German Jordanian University, and trained over 300 candidates. - Established "Spiritual Society", that includes "spiritual therapy diploma", group therapy and spiritual club.

Rania Azmi

President, Fadia Survive & Thrive Association

Rania Azmi

President, Fadia Survive & Thrive Association

Leading “Fadia Survive & Thrive” Association for cancer awareness and advocating for the cure, Dr. Azmi has been a patient advocate for over eight years, where she has been actively participating in various international cancer conferences, advocating for cancer patients’perspectives, based on research and real-world cases (published research abstracts, articles and posters). In the Middle East, Dr. Azmi started an initiative called “Survive & Thrive” in Kuwait, then co-founded and has been leading an international cancer patient support association. She is also an Advocate in Science with Komen for the Cancer Cure, member of Komen's 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 peer review committee of basic, translational and clinical postdoctoral fellowship award, an affiliated member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance, and the International Society for Quality of life research. Besides her cancer volunteering life, Dr. Azmi is a global decision-making expert of note from Egypt, where she was chosen by the Asset International Magazine as one of the brightest “forty under forty” investment stars among the world’s top chief investment officers and was designated a “Woman of Influence” by the Women Speakers Association. She founded “Alexandrite Decision” firm after over two decades of first-hand experience supporting strategic and operational decision making in large institutional investors, Sovereign Wealth Funds and family businesses. Rania is a member of the executive education board at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. She received her Doctorate in Multiple-Objectives Decision Making from the University of Portsmouth.

George Cheriyan

Chief executive and chief medical officer, American Mission Hospital

George Cheriyan

Chief executive and chief medical officer, American Mission Hospital

Dr Cheriyan is the Corporate CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the American Mission Hospital (AMH) in Bahrain since 2009. He worked as a Neonatologist for over 25 years after obtaining his Medical training in the University of Kerala, and post graduate training in Pediatrics in London at The Hospital for Sick Children, and sub-specialization in Neonatology at the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Canada.

He worked as a Consultant Neonatologist in the National Health Service In London before moving up to take up a position as the Head of Neonatology at Saudi Aramco where he worked for 18 years in various capacities of leadership including leading the healthcare quality of Saudi Aramco Healthcare.

He is a trained ‘Improvement Advisor’ in Healthcare quality from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston, MA. He obtained training in Healthcare management at the Harvard Business School, and is an alumni of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Honorary Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Management at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. He has an MBA in leadership from the UK, and his area of interest is in developing a model of non-profit healthcare which is both affordable and of high quality in all economies.

Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi

Director general, Friends of Cancer Patients

Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi

Director general, Friends of Cancer Patients

Dr. Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi has more than 14 years progressive leadership skills and experience in strategy, operations and administration for the not-profit charitable sector. Currently working with one of the most reputable charities in the UAE as the Director General for Friends of Cancer Patients, Dr. Sawsan’s role is to supervise the continuing refinement and expansion of the organizational objectives which include: providing high quality services, organizing fundraising activities, developing ,planning and executing nationwide awareness programs and campaigns through collaboration with a vast network of national and international, governmental and private sector organizations.

Sima Jeha

Sima Jeha, M.D., recognized her interest in leukemia and leukemia patients during her residency. While her peers shied away from pediatric cancer patients, she was attracted to them and wanted to be a part of improving cure rates and outcomes for those patients.

In 2003, she joined St. Jude after being recruited by Dr. Ching Hon Pui, and upon her arrival realized she was part of the hospital that was making the most advanced discoveries in the realm of pediatric cancer. She enjoys the challenge of trying to make it to the next discovery when it comes to treating pediatric cancer and being able to share that knowledge with colleagues. In her words, “You’re actually making the change and that pushes you together to achieve more.”

During her time at St. Jude, Dr. Jeha has played a significant role in expanding the hospital’s international outreach program, which is now known as St. Jude Global. Part of the goal of St. Jude Global is to not only collaborate with hospitals in developing countries, but to strengthen those relationships to the point where those hospitals can become collaborating centers in parts of the world where childhood cancer rates are still high.

Originally from Beirut, Dr. Jeha earned her M.D. from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.

Arasb Ahmadian

Chief executive officer, MAHAK Paediatric Cancer Hospital

Arasb Ahmadian

Chief executive officer, MAHAK Paediatric Cancer Hospital

Arasb Ahmadian collaboration with MAHAK started in 1996 as a volunteer, from 2003 to 2008 as the Deputy Managing Director and since 2009, after MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Hospital’s opening, as the Chief Executive Officer.

In 2017, he has been elected as the chairman of B.o.D of National Network of Cancer Control including 61 organizations believing in his capability of leading their activities in close collaboration with the government in policy making, advocacy and empowering other NGOs. Additionally, he is the member of B.o.D of Deutsch-Iranische Industrie-und Handelskammer, Network of Iranian Non-Governmental Organizations and board of trustees of the Iranian Yavari Society.

Arasb Ahmadian received his BS and MS degrees in physics from the University of Tehran, a MBA from Kempten University of Applied Sciences in Germany, a DBA from the University of Bordeaux and currently he has a post-doctoral fellow at the Université Grenoble Alpes in France.

Raya Saab

Associate professor of paediatrics, American University of Beirut, acting director, Children’s Cancer Institute and director, Paediatric Cancer Research Program

Raya Saab

Associate professor of paediatrics, American University of Beirut, acting director, Children’s Cancer Institute and director, Paediatric Cancer Research Program

Dr. Raya Saab is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the American University of Beirut (AUB), and is acting medical director of the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). She received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from AUB in 1999, residency in Pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, USA, and fellowship in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, USA. Dr. Saab runs laboratory based research investigating the biology of the childhood tumor rhabdomyosarcoma, and is the director of the Pediatric Cancer Research Program at AUBMC, with more than 60 peer-reviewed publications. She leads multiple initiatives for collaborative pediatric cancer care in refugee and vulnerable populations, as well as regional and international network development for improvement of pediatric cancer care in low and middle income.

Maysoun Masri

Health system financing analyst, Department of Health, Division of Health System Financing

Maysoun Masri

Health system financing analyst, Department of Health, Division of Health System Financing

Dr. Maysoun Dimachkie Masri holds a Doctorate in Science in Health Systems Management from Tulane University In the US, in addition to an MBA in Healthcare Management, and an M.P.H in Health Services Administration from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Masri was an assistant professor teaching healthcare finance and economics at the Department of Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Masri worked as a consultant in the insurance industry for a PPO and as a director managing a not for profit hospital. Dr. Masri has extensive knowledge and experience with Health Systems Financing, starting with (1) her research record including a number of peer-reviewed published articles and chapter books; (2) her teaching background; and finally (3) her current work experience at the Division of Health System Financing at the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi.

Amr Elsharkawy

Amr Elsharkawy brings more than 15 years of experience in the Pharmaceuticals and Biotech industry, a healthcare professional with passion to advancing science and helping patients.

Amr is currently Director of Health Economics, Market Access, Reimbursement and Pricing at Janssen GCC, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson. In his capacity Amr and his teams help patients suffering from Hematological malignancies, Prostate cancer, Immunological disorders, Mental illnesses and Pulmonary artery hypertension access innovative therapies. Prior to his current role in Johnson & Johnson, Amr has led various roles in Celgene Corporation and Abbott Laboratories, through his experience he has managed to launch key strategic initiatives in collaboration with governmental agencies and private payers across the MENA region to help shaping policies which enable patients’ access to treatments and enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Amr is the current Chairperson of the Healthcare Finance and Insurance working group of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association Gulf (PhRMAG) and is a member of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).

Amr studied Pharmaceutical sciences at Alexandria University-Egypt, has earned his MBA from University of Strathclyde-UK, and is currently finalizing his Health Economics Masters from University of York -UK.

Ahmed El Banna

Innovation director, ThoughtFire

Ahmed El Banna

Innovation director, ThoughtFire

Ahmed is an award-winning business innovator with a demonstrated record of delivering results in the government and healthcare sectors. Skilled in innovative strategy design, strategy execution, establishing and implementing Innovation Management systems, activating innovation labs and solving complex problems. Top achievements include designing and launching the Dubai Government’s Legal Affairs Department's innovation System and winning the award of exceptional innovation provider with that project. Launching the world's first wireless and touchless students' attendance system that got featured in top security magazines.

He is a pharmacist with a top MBA degree who worked for the world’s largest organizations; Pfizer, Johnson&Johnson, and managed one of the world’s top 100 business schools’ in Dubai. He then challenged himself through founding a company that grew to become the preferred innovation consulting firm for the Dubai Government’s Legal Affairs Department.

Amir Firdaus Abdullah

Group chief operating officer, VPS Healthcare

Amir Firdaus Abdullah

Group chief operating officer, VPS Healthcare

Mr. Abdullah is a strategic healthcare leader recognized in the industry for leading innovations, gaining market share, improvements to efficiency, product/service development and sales/marketing, with recent oversight of organization’s RM1.4B revenue and RM430M EBITDA for 2016 for Malaysia at IHH.

A trusted senior executive for conceptualizing and creating revenue opportunities by leveraging & expanding market share of IHH’s Gleneagles / Pantai brand, improving value proposition through great client experiences and clinical outcomes for patients Group-wide. Clear leader for significant expansion & commissioning experience including the expansion in 2014/15 of two (2) new Gleneagles Hospitals (Johor & Sabah), both slated to generate RM200mil in 2017, a brownfield acquisition of an Ambulatory Care Centre in Sentral, KL slated to generate revenue RM25M, a significant expansion to Gleneagles KL facility (increased to 470 beds with potential rebranding as Gleneagles International (RM350mil+) and recent Primary Care expansion in Oil&Gas and the first foothold for the group on the East Coast of West Malaysia and also winning the bid for provision of Healthcare services at Petronas RAPID project in Johor.

Other expansions include a potential acquisition for Gleneagles in Kuching, Sarawak and assisting with growing of the brand into Indonesia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, etc. Through strong branding, innovations, relationship with the payor market, Clinical Consultants, starting significant Loyalty programs and creation of a competitive leadership team, market share has increased significantly and revenues/Ebitda have always been double digit growth and consistently higher than 20% Y-O-Y.

By July 2016, he has been leading the SEA business for US based Davita Healthcare to grow significant a healthcare platform that includes Hospitals, Ambulatory Care and Primary Care. Khazanah Nasional & Mitsui are equity partner for Davita’s APAC platform.

Since, January 2018 he has been with VPS Healthcare, as Burjeel Group CEO and now Group Chief Operating Officer, commissioning different Hospitals such as Burjeel Royal Hospital, Al Ain, Burjeel Hospital Sharjah and Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi.

Shada Al Ghazali

Shada Al Ghazali

Her academics and past experience in the clinical field as well as in the insurance field supports focus on improving the community health outcomes through analysing situations and proactively recommending potential interventions within her homeland the United Arab Emirates.

Her journey is ongoing, from dentistry, to healthcare management, to economics, to public health, to public innovation and artificial intelligence. Knitting all the learning into solutions that serves people welfare.

Dilshaad Ali

Chief executive, Avivo Group

Dilshaad Ali

Chief executive, Avivo Group

Dr Dilshaad Ali is an accomplished Healthcare Executive with profound insight and experience.
An innovative and engaging leader with proven track and results in all aspects of hospital management and healthcare investment strategies. He has built sustained value ecosystems across diverse financial and operating models around the world. Through his experience and acumen in creating differentiated USPs, he has led the healthcare industry as a key opinion leader in many various aspects of the business. Dr Dilshaad helms Dubai based AVIVO Group which is an integrated healthcare platform spanning the Middle East with 47 assets and currently expanding to ASEAN. He also holds various positions at Board levels in several reputable healthcare companies globally.

Manel Chikh

Founder and chief executive officer, Zaphyr Pharmaceuticals

Manel Chikh

Founder and chief executive officer, Zaphyr Pharmaceuticals

Dr Manel Chikh is the founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zaphyr Pharmaceuticals, a company who commercialize highly specialized medicine in the Middle East and African region (MEA). Zaphyr operates between Switzerland, Ireland and Dubai and its mission is to make sure all MEA patients suffering from chronic diseases, cancer and rare diseases are treated with the best available products at an affordable price. Manel has also founded Curogen, a consultancy company based in Dubai who provides start-ups, small size and medium size healthcare companies a full range of services to establish and/or expand their business into the MEA markets.

She with her company Zaphyr was selected among many entrepreneurs to participate to the first UAE France Economic forum under the sponsorship of the president of France Emmanuel Macron.

Manel launched under Harvard and HEC business school sponsorship, their first healthcare conference in Dubai. She also participated as an expert in the breast cancer awareness campaign and live discussion event organized by Nabtha health for all women in the MENA region.

Prior to being an entrepreneur, Manel had a 16+ years experience in the pharmaceutical industry in highly recognized multinational companies focusing on cancer innovative therapies. She managed the launch of many innovative products all over the world including Europe and MEA.

Manel is a serial entrepreneur; speaker, teacher and Member of many executive and advisory boards from start ups to medium size companies.Manel helped establish the first International Marketing Master program of the most prestigious Pharma University in France. She teaches and coaches regularly students in healthcare and business programs.

Manel is an active member of the European society for Medical Oncology, of the healthcare committee for the French Business Council of the UAE and of the Board of the HEC Alumni association GCC chapter. She also helps launch the first event of the CPhi Pharma confernece in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi last year with more than 3000 healthcare experts attendees.

Manel helds a PhD in pharmacy and biochemistry from the University of Pharmacy of Paris XI (France) and an MBA form the HEC business school.

Danijela Jelovac

Assistant professor of oncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Danijela Jelovac

Assistant professor of oncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Dr. Danijela Jelovac is a respected oncologist and researcher at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in the United States, and an assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, with primary interest in women’s malignancies, particularly breast cancer and gynecological malignancies. Her clinical focus is on development of new approaches for prevention and treatment of breast and gynecologic malignancies. A member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Jelovac has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and has presented her work at national meetings. She is also part of a Johns Hopkins team collaborating with SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company) in the United Arab Emirates, to develop an oncology center of excellence at Tawam Hospital.

Ridwaan Jhetam

Clinical oncologist and pharma executive

Ridwaan Jhetam

Clinical oncologist and pharma executive

Dr. Ridwaan Jhetam received his Masters Degree in Clinical Oncology from the University of Birmingham in the UK having qualified as a Medical Doctor at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, Univ of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He also holds a post graduate degree in Pharmacology and an MBA from the Wits Business School in Johannesburg.

In addition to his clinical experience, Dr Jhetam has extensive Healthcare management in both public and private settings in both developing and developed world settings, and across various countries (South Africa, UK/EU and Middle East) .

He has 20 years of corporate Pharmaceutical industry experience at 3 major pharmaceutical companies: Johnson & Johnson (13 years), followed by 3 years at GSK Sharpe and Dohme and 4 years at Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). He has extensive drug R&D, clinical trials and medical affairs experience with organizational responsibility to generate, interpret & deliver oncology data of the highest quality & integrity. Oversight under his leadership there has been the development, registration, launch & product lifecycle management of various oncology and hematology drugs including five blockbuster and life changing cancer drugs. He has been a lead and member of various Senior Leadership Teams and Governance Committees empowered for critical strategic decision making at a portfolio level and had responsibility for the direct management of senior staff and coordination of all activities performed by their teams across various countries.

Alan Lovell

Alan Lovell

Alan is a Senior Associate and Information Services Manager at EIU Healthcare. He is a member of the Health Policy and Clinical Research team, and oversees the horizon-scanning, searching, collating and appraisal work for evidence reviews and health technology appraisals. Alan has advised and worked on a range of projects for governments, health ministries, academic journals, healthcare providers, insurers, research funders, pharmaceutical companies and sporting associations. Key clients that he has worked with include the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the National Institute of Health Research Dissemination Centre and the Map of Medicine. Alan studied biology at Royal Holloway, University of London, and gained his doctorate from the University of Warwick. He worked at the University of Montreal, before receiving his MA in Information Studies from Brighton University. Alan has an interest in evolution and is a Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London.

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu worked as a doctor in the UK National Health Service, including London’s Queen Square, the Hammersmith and Oxford University hospitals, before joining the British Medical Journal, where he helped to develop and lead a team examining the clinical value of drugs and devices. Dr Muthu then went on to found Bazian, a company dedicated to developing and servicing the needs of the emerging paradigm of value-based health internationally. Following its acquisition by The Economist Group, Bazian lies at the heart of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s value-based health-care business, for which Dr Muthu took overall leadership and strategic responsibility. After launching EIU Healthcare, he has now taken up a Non-executive advisory role as Chair of the business. He also sits on the steering panels for a number of UK-based initiatives in value-based health. In the past, he has additionally served as a health-care consultant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

Agenda

Chair’s opening remarks

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

HRH Princess Dina Mired

President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

HRH Princess Dina Mired

President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan is the President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). HRH Princess Dina Mired is a global advocate for cancer control and non- communicable diseases and the mother of a cancer survivor. She led the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) in Jordan as director general for fifteen years, transforming the non-profit into an internationally known brand and leader in the global movement for people affected by cancer. As one of the leading figures advocating for early detection and screening of breast cancer for women in Jordan, she was the honorary chairperson of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program as founder from 2006-2016. Princess Dina serves in many high-profile international positions, most recently as President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Also, last September of 2018, she was chosen to speak again at the third High-Level meeting on NCDs as “Eminent Champion of the fight against Non-communicable diseases” on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s). Previously, in 2011, she was honoured to have been chosen to deliver the keynote speech on behalf of civil society at the first ever United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs. As a fierce advocate in the fight against tobacco, she is honorary chair of the Tobacco-Free Portfolios steering committee and honorary president of the Harvard University Global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Control and Care in the Developing World. Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan is the president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). HRH Princess Dina Mired is a global advocate for cancer control and non- communicable diseases and the mother of a cancer survivor. She led the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) in Jordan as director general for fifteen years, transforming the non-profit into an internationally known brand and leader in the global movement for people affected by cancer. As one of the leading figures advocating for early detection and screening of breast cancer for women in Jordan, she was the honorary chairperson of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program as founder from 2006-2016. Princess Dina serves in many high-profile international positions, most recently as president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). In 2011, she was honoured to have been chosen to deliver the keynote speech on behalf of civil society at the first ever United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs. As a fierce advocate in the fight against tobacco, she is honorary chair of the Tobacco Free Portfolios steering committee and honorary president of the Harvard University Global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Control and Care in the Developing World.

Tareef Yousef Alaama

Tareef Yousef Alaama

Dr. Tareef Y. Alaama, is a highly trusted strategic executive leader in the Health sector in Saudi Arabia with 16 + years of experience in the health profession. He is currently the Deputy Minister for Therapeutic Services and is in charge of the curative services provided by over 60,000 health care professionals, with multiple mega projects and operations. He is also responsible for 270+ public Ministry of Health Hospitals (total capacity 40,000 beds), Rehabilitation Services, Home Health Care serving 50,000+ patients, Mental Health Services, Radiology, Pharmaceutical Services, Nurses (60000+), Forensic Medicine, Nutrition and the Emergency & Disaster readiness. As a healthcare leader, he has an integral role in establishing an outstanding and sustainable health system in Saudi Arabia with the best ranking in the world. He has remarkably achieved this in an evolving environment through building & inspiring cross-functional high performing teams, using advanced influencing & communication, effective problem solving & innovative thinking while engaging large numbers of stakeholders.
Dr. Tareef has been a driving force throughout his career and instrumental in leading a number of quality oriented and strategic initiatives. He ensures
sustainability and long-term financial success thru optimization and efficiency initiatives. He greatly improved the efficiency of health care delivery within the Ministry of Health’s 70 largest hospitals in Saudi Arabia, resulting in savings of thousands of waiting hours and hospital inpatient days, and improved client and employee satisfaction. The estimated savings reach to c. 100 million USD p.a. He also introduced, measured and reported quality measures and KPIs in a transparent fashion, thereby improving quality across all curative services. Additionally, he achieved savings of c. 500 million USD by streamlining and regulating urgent medical referrals. He implemented a major project with a budget of c. 500 million USD to increase the capacity and improve the quality of the critical care and emergency units in the Kingdom. He initiated multiple projects and task
forces to improve essential health services in the Kingdom. These included Home Care, Rehabilitation, Blood Banks, Emergency Care, and Maternal & Infant Mortality. Besides his MOH role, he is also a consultant & assistant professor of internal medicine & geriatrics. He educated medical students in all levels, trained medical residents and fellows and supervised their research and quality improvement projects in different phases of their training, he is also a practicing physician.
Dr. Tareef authored and co-authored many research papers, which were
published in reputable international scientific journals, and regularly reviews publications for multiple journals. He also has contributed to national and international conferences and symposia and has received awards and recognition for his research.
Dr. Tareef has outstanding leadership training in multiple reputable
management schools and institutes, such as the Canadian Physician
Management Institute, Michigan Ross School of Business, London Business
School, the Board Directors Institute, and the American Association for
Physician Leadership, and is a 6 sigma black belt expert.
Dr. Tareef is double boarded in Internal Medicine & Geriatrics from both the
American board and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.

Karol Sikora

Chief medical officer, Proton Partners International

Karol Sikora

Chief medical officer, Proton Partners International

Professor Karol Sikora is a world respected oncologist and campaigner for better universal cancer treatment. He studied medical science and biochemistry at Cambridge where he was awarded a double first. He created Proton Partners International in 2015 to bring the first precision proton beam to the UK in 2018. Previously he launched Cancer Partners UK, Britain’s largest independent network of ten innovative cancer treatment centres in 2009. Prior to this he was Clinical Director and Chairman of the Department of Cancer Medicine at Imperial College Healthcare at Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals in West London.

Building on his experience as Chief of the World Health Organisation’s Cancer Programme, he has also formed Cancer Partners International, which builds more affordable cancer centres in the developing world. He is a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Founding Dean and Professor of Medicine at Buckingham University, Britain’s first independent medical school which works closely with Milton Keynes University Hospital. He writes and lectures regularly on the use of biomarkers and surrogate endpoints by using molecular diagnostics to personalise therapy. He has published over 400 papers and 20 books have included Treatment of Cancer – the leading British postgraduate textbook for which he has been the senior editor for 7 editions spanning 30 years.

Dilshaad Ali

Chief executive, Avivo Group

Dilshaad Ali

Chief executive, Avivo Group

Dr Dilshaad Ali is an accomplished Healthcare Executive with profound insight and experience.
An innovative and engaging leader with proven track and results in all aspects of hospital management and healthcare investment strategies. He has built sustained value ecosystems across diverse financial and operating models around the world. Through his experience and acumen in creating differentiated USPs, he has led the healthcare industry as a key opinion leader in many various aspects of the business. Dr Dilshaad helms Dubai based AVIVO Group which is an integrated healthcare platform spanning the Middle East with 47 assets and currently expanding to ASEAN. He also holds various positions at Board levels in several reputable healthcare companies globally.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

9:50 AM

Research presentation from the EIU: Cancer Preparedness Index

The Economist Intelligence Unit will present the results of its current research and highlight key findings about the Middle East.

Alan Lovell

Alan Lovell

Alan is a Senior Associate and Information Services Manager at EIU Healthcare. He is a member of the Health Policy and Clinical Research team, and oversees the horizon-scanning, searching, collating and appraisal work for evidence reviews and health technology appraisals. Alan has advised and worked on a range of projects for governments, health ministries, academic journals, healthcare providers, insurers, research funders, pharmaceutical companies and sporting associations. Key clients that he has worked with include the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the National Institute of Health Research Dissemination Centre and the Map of Medicine. Alan studied biology at Royal Holloway, University of London, and gained his doctorate from the University of Warwick. He worked at the University of Montreal, before receiving his MA in Information Studies from Brighton University. Alan has an interest in evolution and is a Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London.

10:10 AM

Panel discussion: The Middle East in the global context

Discussion of the Cancer Preparedness Index—what are the best practices globally? How can the data from the Middle East be leveraged by experts in the region?

Hesham Elghazaly

Professor of clinical oncology and head of medical research centre (MASRI), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

Hesham Elghazaly

Professor of clinical oncology and head of medical research centre (MASRI), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

Professor Hesham Elghazaly is a professor of clinical oncology and head of medical research center (MASRI) Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. He is a board member of the higher committee against cancer in Egypt and the vice chair of NCCN-MENA breast section and member, as a President of BGICS, in the general assembly of Breast International Group BIG. He is the past head of oncology departments in general organization of teaching hospitals and institutes (GOTHI).

Professor Elghazaly is the founder and president of BGICS "Breast –Gynecological International Cancer Society" ww.bgics.net which is an organization established to enhance prevention strategy through awareness and early detection, medical education for all oncology-related specialties, establishing patients support programs and initiating or sharing in scientific research. It represents a committee of the international & national members including all specialties concerned of cancer care dedicated to foster international multidisciplinary collaboration to highlight the updates on evidence-based practice to reach a guideline for the management of breast and gynecological cancers. The BGICC "Breast –Gynecological International Cancer Conference is one of the main activities of the society.

Dr Elghazaly shared in establishing the ESMO guidelines of colorectal cancer published in Annals of Oncology 2012 and Breast cancer NCCN MENA guidelines in 2017.

Professor Elghazaly was the head of GI and Gynecological malignancy 2015-2016 and also established ICRC (International Cancer Research Center) which is the first NGO research center in the region which considered as flat organization branched from BGICS aiming at promoting translational and clinical research in the region.

Prof. Elghazaly is the chairman and owner of Alfa cure oncology center which is the first multi-branched European accredited centers for integrated oncology management and palliative care. It is a private center highly equipped and perfectly tailored to achieve the maximum care and cure of cancer patients.

Madhu Sasidhar

Madhu Sasidhar

Madhu Sasidhar, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer and a consultant pulmonologist and intensivist in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. As Chief Medical Officer, he is responsible for inpatient, outpatient and surgical operations. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Sasidhar was Section Head of Respiratory Therapy in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic in the United States, which he joined in 2008. Dr. Sasidhar received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1992 from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. After completing his residency in internal medicine at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, he completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Sasidhar is a Fellow of the American College of Chest physicians. He has authored or co-authored a number of peer-reviewed medical journals and book chapters, as well as holding one patent registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Amr Elsharkawy

Amr Elsharkawy brings more than 15 years of experience in the Pharmaceuticals and Biotech industry, a healthcare professional with passion to advancing science and helping patients.

Amr is currently Director of Health Economics, Market Access, Reimbursement and Pricing at Janssen GCC, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson. In his capacity Amr and his teams help patients suffering from Hematological malignancies, Prostate cancer, Immunological disorders, Mental illnesses and Pulmonary artery hypertension access innovative therapies. Prior to his current role in Johnson & Johnson, Amr has led various roles in Celgene Corporation and Abbott Laboratories, through his experience he has managed to launch key strategic initiatives in collaboration with governmental agencies and private payers across the MENA region to help shaping policies which enable patients’ access to treatments and enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Amr is the current Chairperson of the Healthcare Finance and Insurance working group of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association Gulf (PhRMAG) and is a member of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).

Amr studied Pharmaceutical sciences at Alexandria University-Egypt, has earned his MBA from University of Strathclyde-UK, and is currently finalizing his Health Economics Masters from University of York -UK.

Amir Firdaus Abdullah

Group chief operating officer, VPS Healthcare

Amir Firdaus Abdullah

Group chief operating officer, VPS Healthcare

Mr. Abdullah is a strategic healthcare leader recognized in the industry for leading innovations, gaining market share, improvements to efficiency, product/service development and sales/marketing, with recent oversight of organization’s RM1.4B revenue and RM430M EBITDA for 2016 for Malaysia at IHH.

A trusted senior executive for conceptualizing and creating revenue opportunities by leveraging & expanding market share of IHH’s Gleneagles / Pantai brand, improving value proposition through great client experiences and clinical outcomes for patients Group-wide. Clear leader for significant expansion & commissioning experience including the expansion in 2014/15 of two (2) new Gleneagles Hospitals (Johor & Sabah), both slated to generate RM200mil in 2017, a brownfield acquisition of an Ambulatory Care Centre in Sentral, KL slated to generate revenue RM25M, a significant expansion to Gleneagles KL facility (increased to 470 beds with potential rebranding as Gleneagles International (RM350mil+) and recent Primary Care expansion in Oil&Gas and the first foothold for the group on the East Coast of West Malaysia and also winning the bid for provision of Healthcare services at Petronas RAPID project in Johor.

Other expansions include a potential acquisition for Gleneagles in Kuching, Sarawak and assisting with growing of the brand into Indonesia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, etc. Through strong branding, innovations, relationship with the payor market, Clinical Consultants, starting significant Loyalty programs and creation of a competitive leadership team, market share has increased significantly and revenues/Ebitda have always been double digit growth and consistently higher than 20% Y-O-Y.

By July 2016, he has been leading the SEA business for US based Davita Healthcare to grow significant a healthcare platform that includes Hospitals, Ambulatory Care and Primary Care. Khazanah Nasional & Mitsui are equity partner for Davita’s APAC platform.

Since, January 2018 he has been with VPS Healthcare, as Burjeel Group CEO and now Group Chief Operating Officer, commissioning different Hospitals such as Burjeel Royal Hospital, Al Ain, Burjeel Hospital Sharjah and Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi.

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu worked as a doctor in the UK National Health Service, including London’s Queen Square, the Hammersmith and Oxford University hospitals, before joining the British Medical Journal, where he helped to develop and lead a team examining the clinical value of drugs and devices. Dr Muthu then went on to found Bazian, a company dedicated to developing and servicing the needs of the emerging paradigm of value-based health internationally. Following its acquisition by The Economist Group, Bazian lies at the heart of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s value-based health-care business, for which Dr Muthu took overall leadership and strategic responsibility. After launching EIU Healthcare, he has now taken up a Non-executive advisory role as Chair of the business. He also sits on the steering panels for a number of UK-based initiatives in value-based health. In the past, he has additionally served as a health-care consultant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

10:50 AM

Networking break

11:30 AM

Flash of insight: Medical technology and the empowered patient

How will the next generation of medical-technology breakthroughs enable patients to take control of their health?

Omar Nimri

Head, cancer prevention and control, Ministry of Health, Jordan

Omar Nimri

Head, cancer prevention and control, Ministry of Health, Jordan

Prior to taking leadership of the Cancer Prevention and Control Department, Omar Nimri was director of the Jordan Cancer Registry. As a lecturer, trainer and advisor, Dr Nimri has worked at the local, regional and international levels on cancer burden, epidemiology, prevention, screening and registration. He is a member of the IARC Regional Hub for Cancer Registration in Izmir, and of the EUROMED CANCER network project, which aims to support non-EU Mediterranean countries in developing policies for early cancer screening and detection.

Shada Al Ghazali

Shada Al Ghazali

Her academics and past experience in the clinical field as well as in the insurance field supports focus on improving the community health outcomes through analysing situations and proactively recommending potential interventions within her homeland the United Arab Emirates.

Her journey is ongoing, from dentistry, to healthcare management, to economics, to public health, to public innovation and artificial intelligence. Knitting all the learning into solutions that serves people welfare.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

11:55 AM

Keynote discussion: Proactive policymakers

Long-term thinking is key for successful national cancer-control programmes; how can the region’s governments develop systems that are proactive rather than reactive? The Middle East is home to progressive initiatives, but how can education and early detection be placed at the core of every cancer-control programme across the region? How can policymakers collaborate with industry to develop and implement sustainable and innovative solutions? What changes are needed in the ways governments approach health-care policymaking?

Bassim Jaffar Al Bahrani

Director, National Oncology Centre, Royal Hospital, Muscat

Bassim Jaffar Al Bahrani

Director, National Oncology Centre, Royal Hospital, Muscat

Dr. Bassim Al Bahrani is working as Director National Oncology Center at the Royal Hospital Muscat Oman since 2010. He has his basic medical degree in 1989 from Bahrain, done his advance training in Medical Oncology in Australia and earned fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of physicians and surgeons of Glasgow, has European Certification in Medical Oncology from ESMO, and PhD from University of Rome Tor Vergata

He is an active and dynamic member of many Oncology associations including European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Gulf federation for Cancer Control, Arab association against cancer, and Medical Oncology group of Australia. Deputy chairman of the MOH National cancer control committee, member of the National committee on NCD control, member MOH treatment abroad Committee, member Gulf Federation for cancer Control, and Committee member of the Arab Medical Association against Cancer.

Dr. Bassim Al Bahrani has an outstanding illustrious job portfolio and enormous experience being an eminent academic, renowned clinician, distinguished researcher, acknowledged health advocate and a recognized health administrator. He has numerous presentations to his credit, being made at international forums. He is an active contributor to research, planning and development in Oncology in Oman.

He is an editorial board member and reviewer to many international and regional journals. He is author of over 40 research articles published in peer reviewed international journals, and presented more than 20 posters and abstracts in international Oncology conferences.

Younis Mohammed Amin Kazim

Chief executive officer, Dubai Healthcare Corporation(DHA)

Younis Mohammed Amin Kazim

Chief executive officer, Dubai Healthcare Corporation(DHA)

Dr. Younis Mohammed Amin Kazim is the CEO of Dubai Healthcare Corporation, which was established in May 2018 to manage and operate all government health care facilities in Dubai. Dr. Younis is a vascular surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, and he holds memberships in the European Society of Vascular Surgery, the European Society of Surgery
and Surgical Research, and the German Society of Vascular Surgery. He earned his degree in medicine and surgery in Cairo, and he completed his internship and residency training in the Dubai Health Authority from 1984 to 1988. He received medical specialty training in general surgery in 1994 and vascular surgery in 1995 from Germany. Dr. Younis began his surgical career in vascular surgery at Rashid Hospital Dubai in 1996. He has been the Head of Vascular Medicine of Rashid Hospital since 2002, and has served as Medical Director of the hospital since June of 2006. He established the vascular unit as an independent unit in the Dubai Department of Health in 1996, and he is considered a pioneer of vascular medicine service in the UAE. Dr. Younis also established several new departments as Director of Medical Affairs, including geriatrics in 2006 and general internal medicine in 2012. During his service as Chief Medical Officer of the Al Gharbia region, Dr. Younis was also responsible for the six hospitals and four peripheral clinics of the Al Gharbia Hospitals, the establishment of services at new hospitals in Gayathi and Sila, the expansion of service in Liwa Hospital, and the restructuring of medical affairs for the region. He also was the Chief of
Medical and Clinical Affairs Officer in SEHA Abu Dhabi and was involved in many initiatives and health care projects in SEHA facilities.
Dr. Younis also served as a member of the board of Dubai Healthcare City

Ranya Fakih

Ranya Fakih

Ms. Fakih is the director of policy and regulation at DHCR. She was ornb in Abu Dhabi, raised in the US.

She has 15 years of nursing experience, 13 years in healthcare administration, quality, policy development and regulation in the US and now in Dubai for the past 14 months.

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu worked as a doctor in the UK National Health Service, including London’s Queen Square, the Hammersmith and Oxford University hospitals, before joining the British Medical Journal, where he helped to develop and lead a team examining the clinical value of drugs and devices. Dr Muthu then went on to found Bazian, a company dedicated to developing and servicing the needs of the emerging paradigm of value-based health internationally. Following its acquisition by The Economist Group, Bazian lies at the heart of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s value-based health-care business, for which Dr Muthu took overall leadership and strategic responsibility. After launching EIU Healthcare, he has now taken up a Non-executive advisory role as Chair of the business. He also sits on the steering panels for a number of UK-based initiatives in value-based health. In the past, he has additionally served as a health-care consultant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

12:35 PM

Networking lunch

1:35 PM

Strategy Session: Childhood cancers

Sponsored by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Access to the right treatment at the right time can make the difference in curing a patient’s cancer. Across the Middle East childhood cancer, policies and cancer control initiatives are sometimes neglected. Jordan, which now has the second highest ratio of refugees to inhabitants in the world has an extreme strain on medical resources, children’s cancer goes undiagnosed and treatments get delayed. What can be done to increase available care? How can parents and others best advocate on behalf of the child? Which people and organisations do advocates need to influence, and how?

Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi

Director general, Friends of Cancer Patients

Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi

Director general, Friends of Cancer Patients

Dr. Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi has more than 14 years progressive leadership skills and experience in strategy, operations and administration for the not-profit charitable sector. Currently working with one of the most reputable charities in the UAE as the Director General for Friends of Cancer Patients, Dr. Sawsan’s role is to supervise the continuing refinement and expansion of the organizational objectives which include: providing high quality services, organizing fundraising activities, developing ,planning and executing nationwide awareness programs and campaigns through collaboration with a vast network of national and international, governmental and private sector organizations.

Sima Jeha

Sima Jeha, M.D., recognized her interest in leukemia and leukemia patients during her residency. While her peers shied away from pediatric cancer patients, she was attracted to them and wanted to be a part of improving cure rates and outcomes for those patients.

In 2003, she joined St. Jude after being recruited by Dr. Ching Hon Pui, and upon her arrival realized she was part of the hospital that was making the most advanced discoveries in the realm of pediatric cancer. She enjoys the challenge of trying to make it to the next discovery when it comes to treating pediatric cancer and being able to share that knowledge with colleagues. In her words, “You’re actually making the change and that pushes you together to achieve more.”

During her time at St. Jude, Dr. Jeha has played a significant role in expanding the hospital’s international outreach program, which is now known as St. Jude Global. Part of the goal of St. Jude Global is to not only collaborate with hospitals in developing countries, but to strengthen those relationships to the point where those hospitals can become collaborating centers in parts of the world where childhood cancer rates are still high.

Originally from Beirut, Dr. Jeha earned her M.D. from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.

Raya Saab

Associate professor of paediatrics, American University of Beirut, acting director, Children’s Cancer Institute and director, Paediatric Cancer Research Program

Raya Saab

Associate professor of paediatrics, American University of Beirut, acting director, Children’s Cancer Institute and director, Paediatric Cancer Research Program

Dr. Raya Saab is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the American University of Beirut (AUB), and is acting medical director of the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). She received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from AUB in 1999, residency in Pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, USA, and fellowship in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, USA. Dr. Saab runs laboratory based research investigating the biology of the childhood tumor rhabdomyosarcoma, and is the director of the Pediatric Cancer Research Program at AUBMC, with more than 60 peer-reviewed publications. She leads multiple initiatives for collaborative pediatric cancer care in refugee and vulnerable populations, as well as regional and international network development for improvement of pediatric cancer care in low and middle income.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

1:35 PM

Strategy session: Financing

What are the financing challenges within the Middle East’s health systems? How are local health systems paid for? What role do private-sector health-care companies, insurers and investors play, and how can they be more deeply engaged in the process? How can governments use financially focused public–private partnerships to improve access to and quality of care?

Rania Azmi

President, Fadia Survive & Thrive Association

Rania Azmi

President, Fadia Survive & Thrive Association

Leading “Fadia Survive & Thrive” Association for cancer awareness and advocating for the cure, Dr. Azmi has been a patient advocate for over eight years, where she has been actively participating in various international cancer conferences, advocating for cancer patients’perspectives, based on research and real-world cases (published research abstracts, articles and posters). In the Middle East, Dr. Azmi started an initiative called “Survive & Thrive” in Kuwait, then co-founded and has been leading an international cancer patient support association. She is also an Advocate in Science with Komen for the Cancer Cure, member of Komen's 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 peer review committee of basic, translational and clinical postdoctoral fellowship award, an affiliated member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance, and the International Society for Quality of life research. Besides her cancer volunteering life, Dr. Azmi is a global decision-making expert of note from Egypt, where she was chosen by the Asset International Magazine as one of the brightest “forty under forty” investment stars among the world’s top chief investment officers and was designated a “Woman of Influence” by the Women Speakers Association. She founded “Alexandrite Decision” firm after over two decades of first-hand experience supporting strategic and operational decision making in large institutional investors, Sovereign Wealth Funds and family businesses. Rania is a member of the executive education board at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. She received her Doctorate in Multiple-Objectives Decision Making from the University of Portsmouth.

Arasb Ahmadian

Chief executive officer, MAHAK Paediatric Cancer Hospital

Arasb Ahmadian

Chief executive officer, MAHAK Paediatric Cancer Hospital

Arasb Ahmadian collaboration with MAHAK started in 1996 as a volunteer, from 2003 to 2008 as the Deputy Managing Director and since 2009, after MAHAK Pediatric Cancer Hospital’s opening, as the Chief Executive Officer.

In 2017, he has been elected as the chairman of B.o.D of National Network of Cancer Control including 61 organizations believing in his capability of leading their activities in close collaboration with the government in policy making, advocacy and empowering other NGOs. Additionally, he is the member of B.o.D of Deutsch-Iranische Industrie-und Handelskammer, Network of Iranian Non-Governmental Organizations and board of trustees of the Iranian Yavari Society.

Arasb Ahmadian received his BS and MS degrees in physics from the University of Tehran, a MBA from Kempten University of Applied Sciences in Germany, a DBA from the University of Bordeaux and currently he has a post-doctoral fellow at the Université Grenoble Alpes in France.

Ahmed El Banna

Innovation director, ThoughtFire

Ahmed El Banna

Innovation director, ThoughtFire

Ahmed is an award-winning business innovator with a demonstrated record of delivering results in the government and healthcare sectors. Skilled in innovative strategy design, strategy execution, establishing and implementing Innovation Management systems, activating innovation labs and solving complex problems. Top achievements include designing and launching the Dubai Government’s Legal Affairs Department's innovation System and winning the award of exceptional innovation provider with that project. Launching the world's first wireless and touchless students' attendance system that got featured in top security magazines.

He is a pharmacist with a top MBA degree who worked for the world’s largest organizations; Pfizer, Johnson&Johnson, and managed one of the world’s top 100 business schools’ in Dubai. He then challenged himself through founding a company that grew to become the preferred innovation consulting firm for the Dubai Government’s Legal Affairs Department.

Maysoun Masri

Health system financing analyst, Department of Health, Division of Health System Financing

Maysoun Masri

Health system financing analyst, Department of Health, Division of Health System Financing

Dr. Maysoun Dimachkie Masri holds a Doctorate in Science in Health Systems Management from Tulane University In the US, in addition to an MBA in Healthcare Management, and an M.P.H in Health Services Administration from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Masri was an assistant professor teaching healthcare finance and economics at the Department of Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Masri worked as a consultant in the insurance industry for a PPO and as a director managing a not for profit hospital. Dr. Masri has extensive knowledge and experience with Health Systems Financing, starting with (1) her research record including a number of peer-reviewed published articles and chapter books; (2) her teaching background; and finally (3) her current work experience at the Division of Health System Financing at the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi.

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu worked as a doctor in the UK National Health Service, including London’s Queen Square, the Hammersmith and Oxford University hospitals, before joining the British Medical Journal, where he helped to develop and lead a team examining the clinical value of drugs and devices. Dr Muthu then went on to found Bazian, a company dedicated to developing and servicing the needs of the emerging paradigm of value-based health internationally. Following its acquisition by The Economist Group, Bazian lies at the heart of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s value-based health-care business, for which Dr Muthu took overall leadership and strategic responsibility. After launching EIU Healthcare, he has now taken up a Non-executive advisory role as Chair of the business. He also sits on the steering panels for a number of UK-based initiatives in value-based health. In the past, he has additionally served as a health-care consultant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

2:35 PM

Panel discussion: Access for all

The Middle East is home to diverse populations and socioeconomic groups. How can equitable access to high-quality, low-cost care be established for all residents, including the less-wealthy and the high proportion of workers from overseas? According to the Filipino Times, of the approximately 4,500 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the UAE, around 1,000 are within the population of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Low proportions of domestic workers complete the entire course of treatment; how can this be changed? How does returning to a home country for treatment after diagnosis skew the picture of diagnosis and treatment-success rates?

Azad Moopen

Founder chairman and managing director, Aster DM Healthcare

Azad Moopen

Founder chairman and managing director, Aster DM Healthcare

Dr. Azad Moopen, the visionary Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, always believes that healthcare is more than a business, primarily a service dedicated to saving lives and restoring wellness. The journey, that Dr. Azad Moopen started with this strong conviction, has touched and made significant positive changes in the lives of millions.

Son of late MA Moopen, a noble soul, freedom fighter and social leader, Dr. Azad Moopen is a Gold Medalist in MBBS and a Post Graduate in General Medicine from Calicut Government Medical College in Kerala, and a Diploma holder in Chest Diseases from Delhi University, India. He started his career as a Medical Lecturer but a chance visit to Dubai exposed him to the immense possibilities of the untapped healthcare sector in the Gulf and he took a life changing decision of relocating to Dubai.

Dr. Azad Moopen’s journey in developing the healthcare sector of the region has been phenomenal. Starting from a single doctor clinic in Dubai in 1987, Aster DM Healthcare has grown over the 30 years into a global healthcare conglomerate of more than 350 facilities spread across nine countries. Guided by his mission to provide quality healthcare at affordable costs at the door-step of people, Dr. Moopen’s efforts have played a significant role in shaping the healthcare delivery model of the region. Today, Aster DM Healthcare is an integrated healthcare service organisation, that provides the complete circle of care to people through its world-class network of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, providing primary to quaternary care to all segments of the population. The Company is one of the largest integrated healthcare service providers in GCC and India.

Dr. Azad Moopen revolutionized the healthcare service in the region by creating a healthcare model and facilities which are accessible to different income groups and masses without compromising the service aspect of the noble medical profession. Along with providing medical care to millions of people across geographies, Aster DM healthcare now provides direct employment to more than 17,700 people, including 1,499 doctors, and 5873 nurses and para medicals as on 30th September 2018 and the numbers are still growing.

A dedicated philanthropist, Dr. Azad Moopen, has embarked on numerous social initiatives through Aster DM Foundation and Dr. Moopen Family Foundation. He strongly believes that profit is a by-product and not our purpose in healthcare, and his initiatives in the field of healthcare, education, women and social empowerment are providing hope to millions across geographies. He has earmarked 20% of his personal wealth for philanthropic activities enabling social change and helping people in need.

A stern believer in values, Dr. Moopen balances his work and family life where he has been ably supported by his loving wife Naseera and three daughters, their families and grandchildren.

Asem Mansour

Asem Mansour

Dr. Asem H. Mansour serves as the CEO and the Director General of the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan; the largest Standalone Comprehensive Cancer Center across the Middle East, leading more than 200 oncologists and consultants and over 2,800 healthcare professionals in executing KHCC’s vision to provide the highest quality care to cancer patients throughout the Region.

He first joined the Center as the Chairman of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology in 1998 and he was later appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program (JBCP) in 2012.

As his responsibilities grew, Dr. Mansour shifted all his focus towards fulfilling his long awaited promise of living up to KHCC’s legacy; by overseeing the execution process of a 108,000 square meters Expansion flourish into life. The campus included a 13-story inpatient tower and a 10-story outpatient building ranging a total of 352 beds that enabled KHCC to grow significantly serving an increasing number of patients every year by doubling up the capacity of new cases.

As the Chairman of the Construction Committee, Dr. Mansour oversaw the commissioning of facilities including the innovative Diagnostic and Treatment Facilities designed to serve revenue growth, physician recruitment and capital construction doubling its existing capacity for superior patient care by introducing the new strategy of Institution Hospital Information Technology.

Aside from being the co-leader and co-founder of the newly established KHCC program; the Cancer Care Informatics (CCI) in Jordan that aims to enhance the utilization of data to better serve cancer patients, Dr. Mansour is also a notable newspaper columnist, an active reviewer, and have co-authored in many prestigious medical journals, and various peer-reviewed publications.

A renowned certified Diagnostic Radiologist with a subspecialty fellowship in Neuroradiology (ESNR), Dr. Mansour earned his M.D. from the Vitebsk Medical Institute, School of Medicine. He successfully pursued a fellowship through the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR- London) and also holds a Master degree of Medical Management (MMM) from the Carnegie Mellon University, USA.

George Cheriyan

Chief executive and chief medical officer, American Mission Hospital

George Cheriyan

Chief executive and chief medical officer, American Mission Hospital

Dr Cheriyan is the Corporate CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the American Mission Hospital (AMH) in Bahrain since 2009. He worked as a Neonatologist for over 25 years after obtaining his Medical training in the University of Kerala, and post graduate training in Pediatrics in London at The Hospital for Sick Children, and sub-specialization in Neonatology at the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Canada.

He worked as a Consultant Neonatologist in the National Health Service In London before moving up to take up a position as the Head of Neonatology at Saudi Aramco where he worked for 18 years in various capacities of leadership including leading the healthcare quality of Saudi Aramco Healthcare.

He is a trained ‘Improvement Advisor’ in Healthcare quality from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston, MA. He obtained training in Healthcare management at the Harvard Business School, and is an alumni of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Honorary Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Management at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. He has an MBA in leadership from the UK, and his area of interest is in developing a model of non-profit healthcare which is both affordable and of high quality in all economies.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

3:15 PM

Flash of insight: Holistic treatment

According to the Mental Health Foundation, one in three cancer patients will also experience a mental-health problem, most commonly depression or anxiety. Holistic treatment of patients requires consideration of mental health alongside treatment and monitoring of cancer. How should patients be prepared for life after treatment, and how can they avoid the emotional “false summit” at the end of treatment?

Mohammed Bushnaq

President , Jordanian Palliative Care and Pain Management Society

Mohammed Bushnaq

President , Jordanian Palliative Care and Pain Management Society

He graduated as an MD from Istanbul university, then received hi9s Jordanian board in internal medicine. He joined the international fellowship program at San Diego Institute for Palliative Medicine, and became the first palliative care consultant in Jordan. In 2004 he was asked to establish and lead the palliative care program at King Hussein Cancer Center. He worked there for 6 years. He is particularly interested in Implementation of palliative care, creating comprehensive spiritual system and building capacity in volunteer work. Beside his private clinic "palliative care and pain management", he is the director of Arab Academy of Palliative Care" and "Bushnaq Training and Development Center". He is the founder and chairman of Jordan Palliative Care Society, and chairman of Bab Elkheer society for volunteer work. He is a temporary adviser for regional office- WHO., and a visiting faculty at school of medicine, Hashemite university- Jordan. He has written 2 books in internal medicine, and 3 books in palliative care in Arabic. His own values are: passion, giving and creativity, and he has been able to develop advanced leadership skills; strategic planning, project management, branding and very good presentation skills. Key accomplishments: - Led the national efforts to develop the national guidelines for palliative care, that was recognized by the ministry of health in Jordan. - Developed " palliative care- 2days course" and trained over 1000 candidates health care workers in Jordan. - Created "wellness house", a group therapy group for cancer patients. - launched " Palliative Care Diploma" affiliated with the German Jordanian University, and trained over 50 candidates. - launched " NGO and Volunteer work diploma " affiliated with the German Jordanian University, and trained over 300 candidates. - Established "Spiritual Society", that includes "spiritual therapy diploma", group therapy and spiritual club.

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu worked as a doctor in the UK National Health Service, including London’s Queen Square, the Hammersmith and Oxford University hospitals, before joining the British Medical Journal, where he helped to develop and lead a team examining the clinical value of drugs and devices. Dr Muthu then went on to found Bazian, a company dedicated to developing and servicing the needs of the emerging paradigm of value-based health internationally. Following its acquisition by The Economist Group, Bazian lies at the heart of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s value-based health-care business, for which Dr Muthu took overall leadership and strategic responsibility. After launching EIU Healthcare, he has now taken up a Non-executive advisory role as Chair of the business. He also sits on the steering panels for a number of UK-based initiatives in value-based health. In the past, he has additionally served as a health-care consultant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

3:30 PM

Networking break

3:50 PM

Panel discussion: Breaking taboos and changing attitudes

How can longstanding taboos around illness and treatment be broken to destigmatise cancer? What is the best way to dispel myths? What are the unique challenges of providing high-quality palliative care, and how can the stigma around pain relievers be overcome? What other taboos around treatment and care remain to be tackled?

Hala Aseel

Co-founder, Zahra Breast Cancer Association

Hala Aseel

Co-founder, Zahra Breast Cancer Association

Hala Aseel has a masters in community counseling from The George Washington University in DC, USA. She is the Co-founder and active member at Zahra Breast Cancer Association, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and

Co-Founder of Blossom Psychoeducation Support Group for Breast Cancer Survivors. She is currently working at Psych Care Clinics as a mental health counselor for adults and adolescents

Wahid Al Kharusi

President, Oman Cancer Association

Wahid Al Kharusi

President, Oman Cancer Association

HE Dr. Wahid alKharusi was the 5th Omani Doctor to join the MOH in 1972. He was the first general surgeon and later the first Orthopedic and Trauma surgeon in Oman. In 1982 he was appointed as the chief of Orthopedics Trauma and Rehabilitation service for Oman.

He was appointed as the Associate professor in Orthopedics and trauma at SQU in 1985. He was the head of the orthopedic trauma and rehabilitation department at SQU. After 36 years in clinical medicine in 2008 by Royal Decree, he was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an Ambassador until his retirement in 2004.

He is the father of global road safety and was very much involved in medical administration, human resource development, and sports medicine. He has been with the Oman Cancer Association since its beginning and now he is the president of OCA.

Recently he was elected to be a board member of the prestigious UICC union for international Cancer control the first within the Gulf countries.

He is a nominated member of the Alpha Omega Alpha international society the only member in the region for his global work.

Zanubia Shams

Co-chairperson and chief executive officer, Zulekha Healthcare Group

Zanubia Shams

Co-chairperson and chief executive officer, Zulekha Healthcare Group

Mrs Zanubia Shams, a visionary leader and prolific entrepreneur is a sincere healthcare ambassador. She has been shouldering the operational responsibilities of the Zulekha Healthcare Group since 2005, supporting her mother. Dr Zulekha Daud in expanding their operations in UAE & India. Mrs Shams has an inherent passion for excellence in operations and with her strategic leadership she exudes an air of confidence that catalyses the operational efficiencies across Zulekha Healthcare Group.
A post-graduate in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, USA, in her professional career, she has successfully established a network of Zulekha healthcare facilities in UAE and India including three hospitals, medical centres, pharmacies and a pharmaceutical store. The group’s projects embody applied dedication for quality & environment friendly healthcare solutions in UAE & India. Adding to her credits, Mrs. Shams features on the Forbes list of Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Middle East. She was also honoured with the Emirates Women Award by the Dubai Quality Group this year. To maintain international standards she reinstates it is essential to expand both our knowledge and understanding of how things are being done & newer ways of doing them, newer perspectives on how management works, on how customer service works and on how you blend technology. Her able guidance helped her teams blend technology with the human experience thereby delivery service excellence and creating centres of excellence across key specialities such as Oncology, Cardiology, Gynaecology and Bariatric. Her commitment towards philanthropy compliments her zeal for success in her business initiatives. Her active involvement in helping communities and the underprivileged through CSR initiatives goes beyond the conventional boundaries of healthcare. Through a series of health-focused campaigns and initiatives, she continues to successfully address major health concerns year on year.
In May 2015, she launched a new cervical cancer screening and prevention initiative – ‘Chance to Change’ to help reduce the incidence of the disease through early detection and regular checks thereby saving lives across the Emirates. Later the same year, as part of October’s global Breast Cancer Awareness month, Mrs Shams spearheaded the launch of the ‘Pink It Now’ campaign, offering women in the UAE access to free breast cancer consultations and mammograms.
Additionally, she had taken forward two other campaigns - Screen and Survive, a colorectal cancer awareness initiative and No More Excuses, a yearlong cardiac health and wellness initiative. Her compassion towards the communities in offering free checks and consultations through the years resonates her desire to eradicate the deadly diseases commonly prevailing in our societies and killing the masses. Mrs Shams believes that having been able to offer affordable quality healthcare services for over five decades now, it has become a habit to serve only the best to our patrons. She embraces the advent of latest patient information systems or hospital information systems in daily operations, which are just another catalyst in the golden phase of healthcare developments. Under her leadership, Zulekha Healthcare Group has joined hands with IFC - World Bank Group to drive “She Works”, a Global Initiative to improve Women Employment. This initiative compels a 60:40 women to men employee ratio to be achieved by the organization, which it has.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, global initiatives, The Economist Group

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

4:30 PM

Panel discussion: Unlocking Innovation

In this final session, panelists explore evolving innovations in healthcare and how their continued evolution can advance access and affordability through new technology. Innovative services and technologies unlock the potential to save and improve cancer patients' lives every year in the Middle East. How can innovation reduce inequalities in healthcare? What are the main barriers to access and how can these be removed? Are innovations being scaled quickly enough to keep up with the rate of the rising cancer diagnosis? How is mHealth revolutionizing the problem of accessibility? How are holistic inter-sectoral innovations moving healthcare initiatives forward?

Sunil Anand

Executive director, ECHO Trust

Sunil Anand

Executive director, ECHO Trust

A graduate and postgraduate from the Armed Forces Medical College, Dr Sunil Anand is a U.K. trained Intensive Care clinician with Post graduate qualifications in Internal Medicine and Anaesthesia. With a 25 year diverse experience in the Healthcare Industry, ranging from bringing innovative technologies to India to being Faculty at the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine conferences and the B.Sc (Medical Technology) course at Symbiosis University, Pune, Maharashtra, India. A serial entrepreneur, Dr Sunil Anand currently serves as the Executive Director of ECHO Trust, India bringing clinical expertise along with managerial and Industry contacts to the Trust.

Manel Chikh

Founder and chief executive officer, Zaphyr Pharmaceuticals

Manel Chikh

Founder and chief executive officer, Zaphyr Pharmaceuticals

Dr Manel Chikh is the founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zaphyr Pharmaceuticals, a company who commercialize highly specialized medicine in the Middle East and African region (MEA). Zaphyr operates between Switzerland, Ireland and Dubai and its mission is to make sure all MEA patients suffering from chronic diseases, cancer and rare diseases are treated with the best available products at an affordable price. Manel has also founded Curogen, a consultancy company based in Dubai who provides start-ups, small size and medium size healthcare companies a full range of services to establish and/or expand their business into the MEA markets.

She with her company Zaphyr was selected among many entrepreneurs to participate to the first UAE France Economic forum under the sponsorship of the president of France Emmanuel Macron.

Manel launched under Harvard and HEC business school sponsorship, their first healthcare conference in Dubai. She also participated as an expert in the breast cancer awareness campaign and live discussion event organized by Nabtha health for all women in the MENA region.

Prior to being an entrepreneur, Manel had a 16+ years experience in the pharmaceutical industry in highly recognized multinational companies focusing on cancer innovative therapies. She managed the launch of many innovative products all over the world including Europe and MEA.

Manel is a serial entrepreneur; speaker, teacher and Member of many executive and advisory boards from start ups to medium size companies.Manel helped establish the first International Marketing Master program of the most prestigious Pharma University in France. She teaches and coaches regularly students in healthcare and business programs.

Manel is an active member of the European society for Medical Oncology, of the healthcare committee for the French Business Council of the UAE and of the Board of the HEC Alumni association GCC chapter. She also helps launch the first event of the CPhi Pharma confernece in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi last year with more than 3000 healthcare experts attendees.

Manel helds a PhD in pharmacy and biochemistry from the University of Pharmacy of Paris XI (France) and an MBA form the HEC business school.

Danijela Jelovac

Assistant professor of oncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Danijela Jelovac

Assistant professor of oncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Dr. Danijela Jelovac is a respected oncologist and researcher at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in the United States, and an assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, with primary interest in women’s malignancies, particularly breast cancer and gynecological malignancies. Her clinical focus is on development of new approaches for prevention and treatment of breast and gynecologic malignancies. A member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Jelovac has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and has presented her work at national meetings. She is also part of a Johns Hopkins team collaborating with SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company) in the United Arab Emirates, to develop an oncology center of excellence at Tawam Hospital.

Ridwaan Jhetam

Clinical oncologist and pharma executive

Ridwaan Jhetam

Clinical oncologist and pharma executive

Dr. Ridwaan Jhetam received his Masters Degree in Clinical Oncology from the University of Birmingham in the UK having qualified as a Medical Doctor at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, Univ of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He also holds a post graduate degree in Pharmacology and an MBA from the Wits Business School in Johannesburg.

In addition to his clinical experience, Dr Jhetam has extensive Healthcare management in both public and private settings in both developing and developed world settings, and across various countries (South Africa, UK/EU and Middle East) .

He has 20 years of corporate Pharmaceutical industry experience at 3 major pharmaceutical companies: Johnson & Johnson (13 years), followed by 3 years at GSK Sharpe and Dohme and 4 years at Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). He has extensive drug R&D, clinical trials and medical affairs experience with organizational responsibility to generate, interpret & deliver oncology data of the highest quality & integrity. Oversight under his leadership there has been the development, registration, launch & product lifecycle management of various oncology and hematology drugs including five blockbuster and life changing cancer drugs. He has been a lead and member of various Senior Leadership Teams and Governance Committees empowered for critical strategic decision making at a portfolio level and had responsibility for the direct management of senior staff and coordination of all activities performed by their teams across various countries.

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu worked as a doctor in the UK National Health Service, including London’s Queen Square, the Hammersmith and Oxford University hospitals, before joining the British Medical Journal, where he helped to develop and lead a team examining the clinical value of drugs and devices. Dr Muthu then went on to found Bazian, a company dedicated to developing and servicing the needs of the emerging paradigm of value-based health internationally. Following its acquisition by The Economist Group, Bazian lies at the heart of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s value-based health-care business, for which Dr Muthu took overall leadership and strategic responsibility. After launching EIU Healthcare, he has now taken up a Non-executive advisory role as Chair of the business. He also sits on the steering panels for a number of UK-based initiatives in value-based health. In the past, he has additionally served as a health-care consultant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

5:00 PM

Closing remarks

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu

Chair, The Economist Intelligence Unit Healthcare

Vivek Muthu worked as a doctor in the UK National Health Service, including London’s Queen Square, the Hammersmith and Oxford University hospitals, before joining the British Medical Journal, where he helped to develop and lead a team examining the clinical value of drugs and devices. Dr Muthu then went on to found Bazian, a company dedicated to developing and servicing the needs of the emerging paradigm of value-based health internationally. Following its acquisition by The Economist Group, Bazian lies at the heart of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s value-based health-care business, for which Dr Muthu took overall leadership and strategic responsibility. After launching EIU Healthcare, he has now taken up a Non-executive advisory role as Chair of the business. He also sits on the steering panels for a number of UK-based initiatives in value-based health. In the past, he has additionally served as a health-care consultant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a leading academic medical center focused on curing pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Through a $115 million commitment called St. Jude Global, the hospital is connecting health care providers internationally to one day ensure all children with cancer have access to quality care.

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Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service is the independent CPD accreditation centre working across all sectors, disciplines and further learning applications. War on Cancer 2018 is eligible for 5.5 CPD points which The Economist Events can assist with claiming post-event.

Supporting organisation

Supporting organisation

Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is the largest and oldest international cancer-fighting organisation. Founded in Geneva in 1933, UICC has over 1,100 members in 170 countries, enjoys consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC) and has official relations with the following institutions: WHO, IARC, IAEA, UNODC. UICC has over 50 partners, including associations working to fight cancer, as well as companies and foundations. UICC is a founding member of the NCD Alliance, McCabe Centre and ICCP.

UICC’s mission is to unite and support the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equality and to ensure that the cancer control continues to be a priority in the world health and development agenda. Its main areas of activity focus on convening the world's leaders for innovative, wide-reaching, cancer-control events and initiatives; building capacity to meet regional needs; and developing
awareness campaigns.

Supporting organisation

AmCham Abu Dhabi

AmCham Abu Dhabi (the trademark of the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi) is a member of the global network of American Chambers of Commerce. Active since 1986, AmCham Abu Dhabi’s Mission is to promote commerce, investment, and goodwill between its membership, the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates. Our vision is to be an innovative organization creating trusted commercial partnerships that broaden U.S. - U.A.E. relationships. AmCham Abu Dhabi is an independent, not-for-profit association comprised of Fortune 500 corporations, small and medium sized companies and prominent business leaders and
entrepreneurs. AmCham Abu Dhabi provides a uniquely situated platform through which executives pursue and discuss issues impacting business operations between the U.S. and U.A.E. Substantive government advocacy programs, educational and networking programs and customized business service are just a few of the many benefits AmCham Abu Dhabi provides its members. Through the support of its members, AmCham Abu Dhabi has become the recognized voice of U.S. business in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.

Supporting organisation

The EIU Healthcare

EIU Healthcare an Economist Group research consultancy specialising in Healthcare and Life science

Supporting organisation

British Business Group

At the British Business Group Dubai & Northern Emirates we have been enabling our members to succeed in business for more than 30 years; providing early access to business opportunities and market intelligence, as well as key decision makers. The BBG has strong links with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and we proactively work together to promote UK trade in the UAE. As our o­ffices are on the Embassy grounds we are able to meet regularly and collaborate to provide British companies already in, or wishing to enter, the UAE market with market intelligence and access to various DIT events and key contacts.

U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council

Supporting organisation

EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

The EACR is a global community of cancer researchers with over 10,000 members in 101 countries. We provide a wide variety of services to our community of members, organise scientific conferences of the highest quality, and facilitate communication and collaboration within the cancer research community.

Media partner

Media partner

Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management

Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management is a Quarterly magazine from Ochre Media. It is the leading Healthcare title in print as well as digital versions serving the information needs of key executives from the world's leading Healthcare providers. Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management covers important issues and trends shaping the future of the Healthcare industry across Asia and rest of the world. It offers dedicated, reliable and accurate coverage of the industry's progress and incisive analysis to help
its readers make informed decisions to stay ahead of the competition.

Media partner

Middle East Medical

Middle East Medical Portal (MEMP) is the premier resource for medical professionals providing useful articles, job opportunities, education, and events through the magazine and website.

Media partner

The Arab Hospital Magazine

With the improvement of public sector Health Care, the proliferation of private sector hospitals throughout the Arab world and the ceaseless development of new medical technologies, it’s important for both Health Care professionals and the general public to be knowledgeable about such a vital sector in order to make the right career choice and treatment decision. The Arab Hospital Magazine fulfills this clear and defined market need. The Arab Hospital aims for excellence, reliability and most importantly professional journalism that is relevant for the region. Our message is to enlighten our societies on the importance of a well managed and developed Health Care field. The Arab Hospital Magazine has correspondents across the region and is a rich source of news on the Health Care sector presented in a fresh and modern format.

The magazine is available monthly throughout the Gulf area, Levant and North Africa with a total circulation of 71,000 copies. Our subscribers are mostly ministries of health, hospitals, private clinics, universities, healthcare related industries (pharmaceutical, equipment suppliers, IT, insurance), doctors and health-conscious readers. The Arab Hospital is available in all relevant bookshops in the Arab world, in the hospitals and clinics of the region, doctor’s waiting rooms, relevant university departments and libraries, and distributed by mail to all key Healthcare professionals.

Media partner

Arab Medicare

ArabMedicare.com is a regional web portal aimed at healthcare professionals and decision-makers in Arab countries. The portal offers regional-specific news and information on over 30+ medical specialty fields.

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Medical Events guide

Medical events guide(MEG) is a platform that serves as a guide for trusted information about healthcare and medical events worldwide. By carefully helping medical companies and doctors access the right events based on their preferences, MEG wants to ensure that events have the maximum benefit for and impact on audiences.

Media partner

Middle East Health

Middle East Health is the leading independent English-language medical magazine for the Middle East and Levant. It is published in Dubai every two months and distributed to senior healthcare professionals and decision-makers in 15 countries in the Middle East and Levant

PR agency

PR agency

Media Art Middle East

Media Art Middle East is a UAE based public relations firm. We are a full-service agency specialising in brand positioning, media relations, crisis communication and social media with proven methods for managing the most challenging and complex programs to achieve success.

Speaking opportunities

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